Chapter 47: A Flash of Gold!
Chapter 47: A Flash of Gold!
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This particular secret realm was not rich in treasures. Most of the Pokémon inhabiting it were low-level species like Caterpie and Weedle.
Due to the lack of resources and challenges, the realm had been repurposed into a tourist destination rather than an exploration site.
The Psyduck that lived there, despite its Gym-level strength, had become a "plaything" for visiting tourists.
Even Frogadier wasn't spared from their attention.
"Oh my, what a handsome Frogadier! Is this your Pokémon, little boy?"
Hikaru glanced at himself, a solid 180 cm tall. Little boy?
Without saying another word, he grabbed Frogadier and made a swift escape.
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The next destination was another forest secret realm, Zao Tree Forest.
Known for its abundant zao fruits, the Pokémon here were competitive and aggressive.
Finding Pidgeot, however, proved challenging. Its location was unpredictable.
After some thought, Hikaru devised a plan: provoke a few Pidgeotto to lure out their overly protective leader.
Sure enough, the method worked.
Angered by the supposed mistreatment of its kind, a sharp-eyed Pidgeot swooped down.
But what it saw stunned it.
The Pidgeotto it had rushed to save were perched around Hikaru's feet, happily pecking at energy cubes.
"What the heck?"
Pidgeot had distinctly heard cries for help but now saw this bizarre scene.
Hikaru's tactic was simple: show the Pidgeotto a "stick" by scaring them, then offer a "carrot" in the form of delicious energy cubes.
The strategy worked like a charm, with the Pidgeotto eagerly calling their leader.
Now, the Pidgeotto, emboldened by Pidgeot's arrival, flew up to lodge their complaints.
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[Pokémon: Pidgeot]
[Ability: Keen Eye]
[Gender: Male]
[Talent: Overlord]
[Strength: Level 35]
[Moves: Quick Attack, Wing Attack, Hurricane, Peck, Aerial Ace, Steel Wing, Brave Bird...]
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Pidgeot was undeniably majestic. Its sharp eyes, sleek brown feathers, well-defined muscles, and crimson crown made it a sight to behold.
"Pidgeot!"
After hearing its subordinates' complaints, Pidgeot cast an unfriendly glare at Hikaru.
In truth, Hikaru hadn't done much—just a little scare tactic to draw them in.
"Let's go, Pidgeot!"
Hikaru saw no need to explain. He was here for a battle, after all.
Though technically it was three-on-one... or perhaps three-on-three?
Seeing Hikaru's three Pokémon, the two Pidgeotto rose into the air, ready to fight alongside their leader.
"Charmeleon, take out the Pidgeotto with Ember Rain. Kirlia, use Psychic to pin down Pidgeot. Frogadier, disrupt Pidgeot's vision with Double Team!"
Hikaru quickly assigned roles.
On the opposing side, Pidgeot issued a sharp cry.
The Pidgeotto responded with their wings glowing white, launching Wing Attacks.
Hikaru smirked. Perfect. He could test his strategy.
"Charmeleon, let's go!"
Charmeleon roared, flames burning brightly as it unleashed a fiery rain.
The scattered embers exploded midair, creating a dazzling display of over a hundred fiery blooms.
The Pidgeotto, unaccustomed to such a large-scale attack, faltered in panic.
Pidgeot, seeing this, attempted to rescue its subordinates, but before it could act, it found itself surrounded by dozens of Frogadier clones.
At the same time, its body was restrained by Kirlia's Psychic.
But Pidgeot was no ordinary opponent. A mere flex of its muscles shattered Kirlia's hold, and with a powerful beat of its wings, it dispersed Frogadier's clones.
"What strength!" Hikaru marveled.
As expected of a mid-level Gym-tier Pokémon, its capabilities were extraordinary.
"Pidgeot!"
Furious at the scattered embers, Pidgeot's rage boiled over. Its home forest could easily catch fire!
"Don't worry, Pidgeot! Charmeleon has excellent fire control!" Hikaru reassured.
Thanks to training with Delphox, Charmeleon had mastered precise flame manipulation. The ghostly Bone Coldfire was especially manageable.
But Pidgeot wasn't convinced.
With a flash of radiant light, it launched itself at Charmeleon in a Brave Bird attack.
"A big move right off the bat?" Hikaru exclaimed.
The sheer speed of Brave Bird made it impossible for Charmeleon to dodge.
"Kirlia, use Protect! Charmeleon, prepare Fire Punch! Frogadier, support with Bubble!"
Hikaru's quick commands set his strategy in motion.
A silver barrier materialized in front of Charmeleon just as its claws ignited with eerie white flames.
If dodging wasn't an option, they'd meet the attack head-on.
The impact was devastating. Pidgeot's Brave Bird collided with Charmeleon's Fire Punch, sending Charmeleon skidding backward.
Frogadier reacted swiftly, cushioning Charmeleon's retreat with a stream of bubbles.
"Charmeleon!" Hikaru's heart tightened.
Although he'd equipped the Immunity entry as a precaution, the sight of his Pokémon in distress always stirred worry.
"Rawr!"
Charmeleon roared, blood dripping from its mouth. Despite the cushioning effect, it had taken significant damage.
However, the Bone Coldfire had successfully clung to Pidgeot, steadily draining its vitality.
Thanks to Charmeleon's Life Flame and Forest Child entries, it began to recover rapidly.
Sensing Charmeleon's renewed vigor, Hikaru's blood surged with excitement.
"Charmeleon, Flamethrower! Frogadier, leap through the forest and use Water Pulse! Kirlia, set up a Substitute!"
Pidgeot, recognizing the coordinated threat, soared high into the sky. Its keen battle instincts guided it to avoid direct confrontation.
Spreading its massive wings, it unleashed a devastating Hurricane, a three-meter-wide vortex that threatened to consume everything in its path.
"Frogadier, Water Shuriken! Charmeleon, continue with Flamethrower!" Hikaru adjusted his strategy on the fly.
The intense battle raged on until dusk. Only then did Hikaru decide to call it a day, retreating with his three Pokémon.
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Back at camp, Hikaru tended to his scratches from the forest's branches, his face glowing with exhilaration.
"That Pidgeot was an incredible sparring partner," he muttered.
The team had gained invaluable experience, and Hikaru was already planning future rematches.
Just then, the system chimed in:
"Host has an unused seasonal entry refresh. Would you like to activate it?"
Hikaru froze, momentarily surprised.
He had forgotten about the quarterly entry refresh.
"Activate it!"
In an instant, a golden flash lit up his vision.
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Next Chapter: What's the Golden Prize?
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